U.S. stock-index futures rise: U.S. stock-index futures are pointing to a higher open on Thursday following a couple of better than expected employment data. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 363,000 in the previous week, according to the Labor Department. Economists were expecting claims to rise to 370,000. U.S. non-farm productivity also increased at a modest pace in the third quarter, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Elsewhere, employment data firm ADP said the private sector added 158,000 jobs in October.

European markets trading mixed: European markets are trading mixed on Thursday with the German DAX (INDEXDB:DAX) flat at 7257.81, the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) was up 0.8 percent at 5827.54 and the CAC 40 (INDEXEURO:PX1) lost 0.4 percent to 3416.47. The euro zone blue-chip ESTX 50 PR.EUR (INDEXSTOXX:SX5E) (Euro Stoxx 50) was trading 0.7 percent higher.

• Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) said third quarter earnings excluding items fell to $2.09 per share from $2.13 a share in the same period last year. Revenue fell 8 percent to $115.71 billion. Analysts had expected Exxon to report earnings excluding items of $1.95 a share on $112.4 billion in revenue.
• Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) said third quarter adjusted profit fell to 53 cents a share from 60 cents a share. Revenue dropped 16 percent to just under $14 billion. Analysts expected Pfizer to earn 52 cents a share on revenue of $14.7 billion. The company provided full year earnings forecast that fell below analysts’ consensus.
• Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) reported a 2.1 percent rise in third quarter profit to $296 million, or 82 cents a share, compared with $290 million, or 80 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Sales gained 12 percent to $3.72 billion. Analysts were expecting the cereal maker to earn 80 cents on revenue of $3.69 billion.
• Japanese electronics giant Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758) reported second-quarter net loss of 15.5 billion yen ($194 million) that was narrower than the average analysts’ estimate for a loss of 15.6 billion yen. The maker of Bravia TVs kept its full-year profit guidance.
• Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) said same-store sales rose 5 percent in October against analysts’ expectations for a 5.6 percent increase. Customer traffic gained 4 percent on a comparable-store basis.
• Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:WPI) reported third quarter earnings excluding certain items of $1.35 per share, compared to estimates of $1.28 a share. Revenue rose 19 percent to $1.29 billion, ahead of Street expectations for $1.27 billion.
• Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU)’s plan to acquire bankrupt Japanese memory chipmaker Elpida Memory Inc (TYO:6665) got a boost when a Tokyo court approved the agreement and dismissed a rival proposal, according to a Reuters report.
• Managed-care company Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) posted third quarter earnings excluding items of $1.69 per share, on revenue of $7.36 billion. Analysts had projected earnings of $1.36 a share on revenue of $6.63 billion. The company also raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook.
• Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE:AVP) reported third quarter earnings excluding one-time items of 17 cents per share, 5 cents below the consensus estimate. Sales fell 7.3 percent to $2.51 billion, also trailing estimates of $2.58 billion in sales. The door-to-door cosmetics vendor lowered its quarterly dividend to 6 cents per share from 23 cents per share.
• Online real estate database Zillow Inc (NASDAQ:Z) has acquired New York-based startup Buyfolio, an online and mobile platform for users to search and discuss listings with real estate agents, for an undisclosed amount.
• Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD) said same-store sales rose 3 percent in October, below analysts’ expectations for a growth of 5 percent. The parent of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Work also raised its fiscal third-quarter earnings forecast.
• Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (USA) (NYSE:POT), the world’s largest fertiliser producer, today said that it has held talks with Israeli government over raising its stake in Israel Chemical Ltd, according to a report in The Wall Street journal.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) said third quarter adjusted profit rose to $1.28 a share from $1.25 a share in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to just under $5 billion from $4.34 billion a year earlier. Analysts expected the pharmaceutical company to earn $1.25 a share on revenue of about $5.1 billion.
• Canadian energy company Suncor Energy Inc. (USA) (NYSE:SU) (TSE:SU) said third quarter profit gained 21 percent to 1.56 billion Canadian dollars, or 1.01 Canadian dollars a share, from 1.29 billion Canadian dollars, or 82 Canadian cents, a year earlier. Operating earnings stood at 1.30 billion Canadian dollars or 85 Canadian cents a share that beat analysts’ estimate for a profit of 78 Canadian cents a share.
• Printing company R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ:RRD) posted third quarter earnings excluding one-time items of 51 cents a share, 7 cents above the consensus estimate. Revenue dipped 7 percent to $2.5 billion, trailing estimates of $2.58 billion. The company lowered its full-year forecast.
• Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE:SE) said third quarter profit dropped 30 percent to $179 million, or 27 cents a share, from $254 million, or 39 cents a share. Operating revenue dipped 4.5 percent to $1.07 billion. Analysts were looking for earnings of 31 cents a share on revenue of $1.16 billion.
• Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:DTG) said third quarter net profit fell 17 percent to $55.5 million, or $1.91 a share, from $66.6 million, or $2.13 a share, in the year ago period. Revenue rose 2 percent to $460.6 million. Analysts had forecast earnings of $1.69 a share on revenue of $454 million. The company, in the process of being acquired by rival Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ), raised the lower end of its full-year earnings forecast.

Europe

• Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A) (LON:RDSA) is up 1 percent in London trading after reporting third-quarter earnings that beat market expectations. Excluding one-time items, profit came in at $6.6 billion, beating the average analysts’ estimate of $6.3 billion. Revenue declined 8.4 percent to $115.43 billion. Production fell 1 percent to 2.982 million barrels of oil equivalent a day from a year ago.
• British phone company BT Group plc (ADR) (NYSE:BT) (LON:BT.A) lowered its full-year revenue forecast after European corporate customers slashed spending in response to tough economic conditions and regulatory changes. Second quarter pre-tax profit increased 7 percent to 608 million pounds, beating the average analysts’ estimate of 595 million pounds.
• Britain’s biggest mortgage lender Lloyds Banking Group PLC (ADR) (NYSE:LYG) (LON:LLOY) reported a third-quarter loss, as it set aside another 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) to compensate clients who were mis-sold loan insurance. Net loss, however, shrank to 361 million pounds from 501 million pounds in the same period last year.
• French oil explorer Maurel & Prom (EPA:MAU) soared 12 percent amid reports that China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (ADR) (NYSE:SNP) (HKG:0386) (SHA:600028) is considering a takeover offer for the company.
• British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (LON:BSY), U.K.’s biggest pay-television provider, rallied 4.5 percent after first-quarter operating profit beat analyst estimates. Earnings before interest, taxes and other items gained 5.1 percent to 310 million pounds ($500 million), topping estimates for 300 million pounds. Sales rose 3.5 percent to 1.72 billion pounds, in line with estimates.
• Cosmetic ingredients maker Croda International Plc (LON:CRDA) reported a 3.2 percent rise in third quarter underlying group sales and announced the disposal of its unit in Cremona, Italy.
• Insurance firm Legal & General Group Plc (LON:LGEN) reported record third quarter sales and said assets under management were over 390 billion pounds.
• British energy firm BG Group plc (LON:BG) lost 5 percent in London trading as Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgraded the stock to “neutral” from “buy.” Analysts at Societe Generale also lowered their recommendation to “hold” from “buy.”